If you have a legal problem you call your attorney that you have trusted for years for advice. If you have a medical issue you call your family doctor that you visit when you have a health issue. When it is time to do your taxes you have your CPA work on your filings.  So when you need insurance advice and insurance coverage, why would you want to buy it from a 1-800 number or from an internet site? Would you get your legal advice online? Would you get your physical over the phone? Would you trust a CPA you have never met? Of course not. Those personal relationships are very important and must be just that, personal.

When buying insurance it pays to know your agent. Your agent knows the area in which your home is located. He/she also will come to know your situation and assets like his/her own. Just as a doctor becomes familiar with you and your health, an insurance agent becomes familiar with your most precious assets, your house and automobiles. Your agent also becomes familiar with your liability risk and can recommend the appropriate coverage to protect those assets based on his professional opinion.  Having one agent take care of all of your insurance needs is recommended. If this is not possible, at least make sure your agent for each asset knows about the other assets. It is important for an agent to evaluate the full risk whether he/she insures all of it or not.

Working with the same agent year after year builds a personal relationship that becomes invaluable.  You owe it to your family to make sure your assets are protected by a company represented by someone you can call by their first name. Someone you can go see in case you need to have a personal face to face conversation. You owe it to yourself to have that personal relationship.

Philip L. Bradley

Philip L. Bradley is the CEO of The East Cooper Insurance Agency in Charleston SC. He is a Personal Financial Representative and is licensed in the State of South Carolina in property/casualty and Life and Health.